Democratic Sentinel, Volume 4, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 March 1880 — NEWS OF THE WEEK. [ARTICLE]

NEWS OF THE WEEK.

TOIUQW llVft In Afghanistan Gen. Roberts is preparing to renow operatior s with the opening of the spring. He estimates the force of the enemy at 00,000 men. The Irish Relief bill has passed both houses of the British Parliament. Reports from Cuba state that the sugar crop is about 40 per oent smaller than lost year. The Moscow (Russia) Weaving Works have been destroyed by Are. Twenty-ft/cr persons were burned to death and twenty-nine injured. The actios of the French Government in refining to surrender Hartmans to Russia ie said to meet the approval of the principal European Governments. The Russians have abandoned the projected expedition against Morv. Paris is alarmed at a threatened epidemic of small-pox. It is reported from Afghanistan that Mahomed Jan’s army is increasing enormously. The natives are loud in their threats to exterminate the “ blarsted Britishers.” Gen. Melikoff was saved by a chain shirt when Viadeteky attempted to assassinate him. The bullet tore a hole in his coat, but was arrested by ihe protecting mail Advices from China report a revolt in the city of Pokin, and that Chung How, the late Chinese Ambassador to Russia, who negotiated a treaty which proved unpopular, has been beheaded. The Now York Tribune's special correspondent in Iroland telegraphs that men, women and children iu eome of the faminestricken portions of Ireland arc reduced to the last stages of nakeduess and dontitution. Families are huddled together without fire, food, clothing or beading, within a miserable hut or tbo former abode of animals. Thousands and thousands are begging, not for bread, but for tbo humblest, cheapest food that can be supplied for human use—lndian meal' All this exists, and thero is little prospect of much improvement until August. It appears that in some districts the distress is oven groatcr than it was in the appalling famine of 1817. The steamer Montana, of the Guion line, was wrecked off the coast of Waterford, Ireland. No loss of life. Distressing accounts are received of famine and starvation in Armenia and Kurdistan, Asia. Meantime the reoent reports of famino and pestilence in Brazil are pronounced to have been greatly exaggerated.

DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE. East Another human body was cremated iu the Lo Moyne furnace, at Washington, Pa., last woek. All of the Lewis will-case conspirators have been found guilty by a Trenton (N. J.) jury. C. O. Taylor, city editor of the Philadelphia Timm, shot and killed himself while temporarily insane. West. The Chinese agitation in San Francisco has been the sourco of considerable excitement, and not a little apprehension, among the business men in that city. The armories of the local militia regiments are closely guarded, and Gen. McDowell, commanding the Division of the Pacific, has been instructed by the President to move all available Federal troops in bis district to that city at ouce. Tho workingmen are considerably exeited ovor these movements, and many of them assert that the authorities are tryiDg to force a quarrel on them. Meau time the eastward exodus of the Chinamen oontinuos. Nearly every train oarries away a lot Most of them go to the manufacturing district* of the Eastern States; a few stop in Chicago, St. Louis, and other Western cities, while a few others are directing their steps to the cotton fields of the South. The Kansas Insane Asylum at Osawatomie has been destroyed bv fire. The Grand Central Hotel, at Oakland, a suburb of San Fransisco, Cal, has been burned. The loss by the fire is estimated at *250,000. , Chief Douglass, the captive Ute, made another attempt to escape from Fort Leavenworth the other day, but was discovered before be had proceeded far. There is stored in Chicago elevators 8,798,110 bushels of wheat, 5,256,902 bushels of com, 1,008,360 bushels of oats, 244,407 bushels of rye, and 054,581 bushels of barley, makiDg a total of 15,901,860 bushels, against 12,563,030 bushels at this period last year. There is, in addition, 2,435,566 bushels of grain in the holds of vessels lying in the harbor. The Citizens’ Protective Association of Han Francisco, otherwise known as the Vigilance Committee, has issued a manifesto declaring that the objects which it bos in view are the preservation of peace, the protection of life and proportv, the restoration of confidence, and the revival •of legitimate commerce, industry, and business; that the time has come when the manhood of Han Francisco should be asserted, and that all good citizens who agree with it and approve its purposes are invited to join themselves to the organization by signing the roll.

Reports from the winter-wheat districts show that the condition of the crop is generally favorable and the prospects flattering. In Illinois there are complaints of wet weather, snd in Kansas and lowa of dronght, but it is the opinion of good judges that there will be an unusually heavy yield. An uncommonly bold robbery is reported from Sidney, Neb., on the Union Pacific railroad. While Express Agent Allen, of that place, was gone to dinner for about an hour, the office was entered through a hole in the floor and 9125,000 in gold bullion, gold dust, and currency were stolen. It had arrived from the Black Hills the preceding night, and was transferred to the office for shipment East Search was made for the robbers, but no clew found; Several hours after the perpetration of the robbery, some parties, while examining a a coal-cellar, on Allen’s suggestion, as no one bad been observed entering or leaving the building, several bags of bullion and gold-dust were found under the coal, amounting to 9112,000. Two bullion bricks and all the ourrency, together amounting to 913,000, oould not be found. Mayor Kallooh, of San Francisco, has issued a proclamation in reply to the manifesto of the Vigilance Committee stating that the workingmen have proved themselves to be the law-abiding portion of the population, and that there is not the slightest reason to apprehend any disturbance on their part The town of Frank fort, Ind., has been the scene of a most horrible and destructive boiler explosion. The hands employed in the flaxseed mil's of Lehman, Rosenthal & Co. were

assembled around the boiler, in the engineroom, at an early hour in the morning, waiting for the whistle to blow before beginning the day’s labjr, when ihe boiler exploded with a concussion that shook the entire town. The villagers rushed en masse to the scene of the explosion, and there beheld a sickening sight. The building was in ruins, having been torn to pieces by the explosion of the boiler. Bound about the ruins, from a distance of 50 to 150yardo, were scattered the mangled, distorted and lifeless remains of the ten men who but a short time before had ief t their hemes and stood ready to begin their daily work. They bad been hurled into eternity without an instant’s warning. The majority of them were so mutilated os to be beyond recognition. The most plausible theory thus far advanced is that the engineer had started the fire under the boiler as usual; that considerable steam had been generated, and as the engine was started the pump forced cold water into the boiler and the explosion followed. It ha* been a custom with the men to assemble at the usual time in tho morning, in front, or at tbe north end of the boiler, where they would remain warming themselves by the fire and talking with each other until the whistlo summoned them to work. Not a man wis left to tell the sad story of the terrible disaster. Dennis Kearney was arrested by the police in Han Francisco, last week, on two charges of misdemeanor, baaed on remarks at a workingmen’s meeting. He gave bail and was released from custody. At Lewiston, 111., when Judge Shope sontenoed a burglar to seven and a half years’ imprisonment, tho culprit seized a heavy inkstand and hurled it at tho magistrate’s head. His Honor dodged the missile, and the convict was hurried off to jail in irons. Indian news: 0. D. Richards telegraphs from Fort Buford, Dakota Territory: “Hitting Bull has lost all his former power in the hostile camp, and is on routo for this agency. Trouble is expected hero before spring.”—Advices from New Mexico reporta fight in the Sacramento mountains between twenty mounted men under Lieut. Oouline and a portion of Victoria’s band, in wbioh the latter were defeated, and a large amount of stock captured.—A report comes from Fort I'eck Indian Agency that tbe Y&nktonnai Hionx and Assiniboine Sioux, comprising that agency, had declaro 1 war against each other, and that lift on Yanktonnais bad been killed and many wounded, and about tho same number of Assiniboines.

Full telegraphic reports from eleven Western States show that wheat is generally in excellent condition. Tho winter lias been a remarkable one, but, everything coneidored, not unfavorable. It is estimated that the yield will be 6J per cent, greater than last vei r. The Wisconsin Legislature has adopted a proposition for a femalo-suff ago amendment to the Slate constitution. Gen. Miles reports that Sitting Bull is south of tbe international boundary line, near Round buttes, on Milk river. Daniel O’Leary, of Chicago, scored 516 miles in a six-days’ walking match at San Francisco, his competitor, E. P. Weston, marking 490 miles in the same poriod. B. F. Benson, one of the proprietors of Grand Central Hall, Oakland, Cal., has been arrested for stealing the valuables of guests duriDg tbe fire which destroyed the building, and which appears to have been incendiary in its origin. A resolution in favor of a prohibitory Liquor law has been voted down in the Wisconsin Senate. The Ohio and Mssissippi railroad has restored the wages of employes to what they were previous to the reductions in 1877. Two girls, 8 and 9 years old, were burned to death in a fire which destroyed their father’s farm-house near Denison, lowa. Boutlx. Efforts are being made by Mississippi planters to get Chinese to work on the plantations in place of the negroes, who are leaving in hordes for Kansas and other States North. The trial of two of the notorious Gullys, charged with the murder of John P. Gilmer, was commenced at De Kalb, Miss., last week. The Postmaster at Annapolis, Md., is under arrest for stealing *3,000 worth of postage stamps. A former employe of the Tennessee Penitentiary has been sentenced to seventeen years’ imprisonment for assisting an express robber to escape from that institution. There were three executions in the South on Friday, March 12, all the victims being colored jnen. John Mayfield was hanged at Florence, Ala., for the murder of another colored man; Sidney McFaddin was executed at Washington, Ark., for the murder of his negro wife; and Dan Brigherly was strung up at Thomasville, Ga., for rape on a white woman. Hundreds of Kentucky negroes are leaving that State for Kansas. The Mayor of Louisville, Ky., narrowly escaped assassination at the hands of a discharged Btreet foreman, who discharged a pistol at him at a distance of three feet. The Supreme Court of Texas has declared the Saloon Bell-Puncb law constitutional.

POLITICAL POINTS. The Louisiana Democrats will meet in convention April 12, to select delegates to Cincinnati. The eases coming np from Ohio and Maryland, involving the constitutionality of the Federal Eleotion law, have been decided by the Supreme Court of the United States. State Judges of Election, having inter'ered with National Supervisors and Marshals, were sentenced by Federal courts to fine and imprisonment The Republican members of the Supreme Court affirmed the regularity of the proceedings and the constitutionality of the law under which they were had. Justices Clifford and Field dissented, holding that it is not competent for Congress to punish a State officer for the manner in which he performs the duties imposed on him by the laws of the State, and that the Federal Eleotion law is clearly unconstitutional. At. a charter eleotion in Middletown, N. Y., five women were elected members of the Board of Education over five men. State Conventions of the political parties have been called as follows: Greenback—Michigan, March 17; Pennsylvania, Maroh 22. Democratic— Nebraska, March 31; Texas, April 20;'Virginia, May , 19; Wisconsin, May 19; Kansas, May 26; Illinois, May 29; South Carolina, June 1; Alabama, June 2; Arkansas, June 2; Tennessee, Jnne 8; Indiana, June 9; Kentucky, June 17. Republican Rhode Island, March 18; Texas, March 24; Kansas, Maroh 31; Connecticut, April 7; lowa, April 14; Massachusetts, April 15; Oregon, April 21; Virginia, April 21; Georgia, April 21; South Carolina, April 29; Tennessee, May 5; Wisconsin, May 5; New Hampshire, May 6; New Jersey, May 6; Maryland, May 6; Nevada, May ll; Florida, May 12; Miohigan, May 12; West Virginia, May 12; Illinois, May 19; Alabama, May 20.

A bill making women eligible to the . office cf County Recorder has passed the lowa Senate. A mass meeting of Republicans opposed to the nomination of Gen. Grant to a third term was held in Mercantile Library Hall, St Louis, one night last week. Ex-Senator John B. Henderson was the chief spokesman. Tbe following resolution was adopted: That it is ihe sense of this meeting that the nomination of a Presidential candidate for a third term is unwise, inexpedient and subversive of the traditions of the Government, and likely to endanger the success of the Republican psrty.” The Ohio Republican. State Convention, for the choosing of delegates to the National Convention, has been called to meet at Columbus on tho 28th of April. The Democrats will hold their State Convention •on the 6th of May. John Sherman, Secretary of the Treasury, has writteu a letter to M. L. Scndder, of Chicago, stating tsat he is a candidate for the Presidency with tho purpose neither to press anyone to support him nor to decline such friendly aid as is offer jd him. He says l he does not think it necessary for him to belittle or srraignGen. Grant, Senator Blaine, cr anyone else, and he will not use his official position to promote 1 io candidacy. The Washington Post prints a letter from Utica reporting interviews with Horatio Seymour, which sets forth the excellent condition of his health ard other similar elements of fitness which a candidate would like to have known. On the question as to whether he could be prevailed unou to run, the letter is as good as an announcement that he is willing to enter the race. A State Convention of the Republican party of Arkansas has been called for Aprij 28. Assistant Secretary of the Treasury John B. Hawley has resigned for ihe purpose of prosecuting the canvass for the Governorship of Ulnois. The Now York World is informed that ex-Gov. Seymour has never, in any way, expressed or entertained an id 9& of allowing his name to be presented to the ueople as a candidate for the Presidency, nor will he allow it to be so used under any circumstances whatever.

WASHINGTON NOTES. Count De Lesseps explained his canal project to tho House Committee on the Inter-oceanic Canal last week. He claimed that his plans were quite feasible and practical, and argued that, in the interest of American commerce, he should be aided and encouraged rather than cnecketl pud thwarted in carrying forward his scheme. De Lesseps, the projector of the Isthmus canal, affects to bo pleased with the Executive message upon that subject, “ because it would certainly be advantageous to have the protection of the United States during the progress of the work and after the opening of the canal.” He sent a message to his son in Paris stating that tho President’s declaration assures the political safety of the enterprise. The Southern Claims Commission expired on March 10 by the terms of the act creating it. In its last report to Cbngress, now in type, it is shown that since tbe organization of the commission, in 1871, 22,298 claims, amounting to over *60,000,000, have been filed, of which all but about one-twelfth have been rejected. The Secretary of the Treasury says he intends every week to invest all the revenues, lees the actual expenditures and a proportionate share of the accruing interest of the public debt, in the purchase of 5 and 6 per cent, bonds on publio offers in New York. Gen. Charles Adams, who conducted the negotiations for the surrender of the Ute murderers, was offered by President Hayes his choice among all tfce vacant positions in his gift, and he hss chosen the mission to Bolivia. It is now stated that a thorough canvass of the Senate before the Fitz John Porter bill was laid on tbe table showed that there was a majority against it. Porter is hopeless of anv action at this session.

DOINGS IN CONGRESS. On the reassemnling of the Senate on Monday, March 8, Mr. Kirkwood offered a resolution, which waa adopted, calling lor an itemized list of expenditures of the Government on account of the late war, brought down to the present time. The bill for the relief of homestead settlers on pnblic lands, amending the homestead laws in several particulars, was passed, as was the bill to amend the law relative to the seizure and forfeiture of vessels for breach of the revenue lawsThe morning hour having expired, Mr. Bayard spoke in favor of the bill for the relief of Fitz John Porter. A message was received from the Presi-. dVnt, relative to the interoceanic canal. Mr. McDonald obtained the floor, and, after executive session, the Senate adjourned... .In the House, the Speaker announced the new rules so operative today, and called tne States for bills, etc., beginning with Alsbama. Mr. Samford introduced a bill to reduce the tariff on certain articles, A discussion ensued as to what committee the bill should be referred to, but the bill was sent to the Ways and Means, as was another, introduced by the same gentleman, placing type and material used in its construction, and paper and its material upon the free list. Bills were Introduced and referred: By Mr. Nichoiis, lo reduce the duty on wood and straw pnlp, scda-ash and other chemicals used in the manufacture of paper, and to reduce Ihe duty on unsized paper t) 5 per cent, ad valorem; by Mr. Speer, making it unlawful tor any officer of the regular army to order inspections, dress-parades or concerts on Sunday; by Mr. Morrlaon, to reduce the duties in excess of 50 per cent, ad valorem on various articles; by Mr. Fort, granting pensions to all soldiers and sailors of ail the wars who are incapacitated to labor, and who nave no means of support; by Mr. Gillette, appropriating 950,000 to enable the Commissioner of Agriculture to encourage the manufacture of sugar from corn-stalka and sorghum; by Mr. McKenzie, abolishing all duties off agricultural machinery and implements; by Mr. Caldwell, to equalize at 99 per month all bounties for total disability; by Mr. King, placing on the free list paper material; by Mr. Brewer, to regulate the const nction of pnblic buildings by contract; by Mr. Dunnell, to reduce the price of public lands within railroad limits; by Mr. Hatch, to provide for the Importation of salt free of duty; by Mr. Cox, to repeal the tax on bank checks, matches and legacies; by Mr. Covert, to admit chromate of iron free of duty; also to punish blackmailing In ihe District of Colombia; by Mr. Young (Ohio), to define the laws in regard to the length of service In the army; by

Mr. Warner, to gnat loads to soldiers; by Ur. Clymer, granting a pension to tbe widow of Oen. George A. Custer; by Ur. Overton, to provide for promotions in tbe retired list of the army; by Mr. Ward, to protect original inventions; by Mr. Davis, appropriating *360.000 for tbe Chi cago harbor. Mr. Davis (Ul.) offered a resolution for tbe appointment of a committee to ascertain tbe terms on which the State ot Illinois will cede to the United Btates the Illinois and Michigan canal. The Speaker laid before the House a message from the President in regard to the Interoceanic canal. Mr. Edmunds stated to the Senate on the 9th of March that hereafter he would object to the reading of memorials. Mr. Cameron (Wit.) presented a joint reeolntiun of the Wisconsin Legislature praying for legislation regulating inter-state commerce. Bills were introduced and referred: By Mr. Kern an, giving to aU religious denominations equal rights and privileges to Indian reservations; by Mr. Edmunds, for the erection of s monument in Washington to Custer and the men who fell with him. Mr. Bailey submitted a resolution, ordering the Judiciary Committee to examine and report in regard to an alleged contract between the Pacific railroads and the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, and what action is necessary to protect the public interest. After the morning hour, Mr. McDonald spoke in favor of the bill for the relief of Ben. Porter, his speech not being concluded at adjournment, fbe President nominated William Ware Peck, of Wyoming, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of New Mexico; 8. Newton Pettis, of Pennsylvania, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of Wyoming.... In the House, a number of bills were reported from committees and placed on the calendar or recommitted, after which the Political Assessment bill was taker, up, and Mr. House made a long speech In favor of the bill, lasting till adjournment. A message from the President was laid before the Senate, on the 10th inst, containing tbe agreement with the Ute Indians, requesting ratification. Mr. Thurman, from the Committee on the Judiciary, reported adversely the Senate bill to reimburse the several States for Interest paid on war loans and for other purpose!. Placed on the calendar. Mr. Davis (Ill.) stated that there was a minority report on the bill. Mr. Bayard, from the Committee on Judiciary reported favorably the House bill to define tho terms of cilice of the Chief Supervisors of Elections. Mr. McDonald then continued his remarks upon tbe Pilz John Porter ease, and occupied theday. At the conclusion of his speech a motion was made to refer the bill to the Judiciary C mmittee. The Senate Tejected the nomination of William B. Brown as Census Supervisor for the Eighth district of Illinois. This nomination was rejected by a party vote upon the ground that at least one of the eight Illinois Supervisors should have been selected from the Democracy... .In the House, Mr. Kesgan offered a substitute to the resolutions on tbe Panama canal, asserting this country’s determinat on to control such communication. Mr. Whitthome, from the Na-al Committee, reported a resolution, which was agreed to, appointing a commission to examine our ironclads, with a view to their completion and repair. Consideration was resumed of the Political Assessment bill, and a discussion ensued, participated in by Messrs. Young (Ohio), Bichardson (N. Y.), Crowley, Bice, Hays and Butterworth. An evening session was hpld, at which fifteen or twenty pension billa were passed. Iu the Senate, on Thursday, March 11, the bill for the reclamation of arid and waste lands pvssed. It authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to contract for the sinking of two artesian wells on the plains east of the Bocky mountains, the wells to be the center of & reservation or four rquare miles. Mr. Jones,* f Florida, spoke upon the Porter bill, and, after the coucluston ot his remarks, the bill was laid on tbe table subject to be ta>ien up by a majority at any time. Tbe Fortifications Appro priation bill was taken up and tbo Senate adjourned. .. .In tbe House, Mr. Kelley roset • a question of privilege, and denied in emphatic lauguage a reported conversation in regard to the tariff on sugars, in which corrupt motives were attributed to Mr. K»lley. The regular oid-r being demanded, consideration of the Political Assessment bill was resumed, and the bill was put upon its pa-sage, when no quorum voted. Tbo Bepublicans filibustered nearly the entire session, when the bill was laid on tbe table fur the present and the House adjourned. At the opening of bnsiness in the Senate on the 12th inst., Mr. Williams presented a joint resolution of the Kentucky Legislature, instructing the Senators from Kentucky to urge the passage of a bill reducing the salary of the President of the United States. The bill for the relief of the widow of Gen. Custer was Indefinitely postponed. A little discussion ensued about the Panama canal project. The following bills were introduced and referred: By Mr. Beilins, to provide for the ascertainment of tbe claims of American citizens for spoliation prior to July 1, 1861; by Mr. Teller, to enable Colorado to Belect land under the acts making the grant of land for the benefit of agricultural colleges and mechanic art*. A resolution calliftg for information in regard to Government technical schools was adopted. The Fortifications Appropriation bill was passed, with amendments. Mr. Kellogg rose to a personal explanation, and called for an investigation in regard to the newspaper report that the attack upon Senator Hill, of Georgia, had been planned by Kellogg to influence the contested-election case, and the woman, Miss Baymond, had been brought here by Kellogg for the purpose of slandering Senator Hill. Mr. Thurman announced that he should move to lay the resolution for an investigation on the table. The Senate then adjourned to Monday....ln the House, the hi 1 *uthoiizing the Secretary of the Interior to deposit certain Indian trust funds in the United btates treasury in lieu of investment was passed. The morning hoar was dispensed with, and MoMahon reported back the Deficiency Appropriation bill from the AjJpropriation Committee. The House went into committee of the whole, and discussed the bill for most of the day and rose without action. The following bills were introduced and referred: By Mr. Covert, for Hue suppression of pleuro-pneumonia in neat cuttle; by Mr. Scales, to accept and ratify tbe agreement submitted by the Ute Indians for the sale of their lands in Colorado, approximating *380,000; by Mr. Osmi r, to accept the titie to property iu Erie, Pa., and establi-h a Home for Indigent Soldiers and Sailors. Tbe Housj adjourned to Monday. .